By BM
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has promised to elevate Ntoroko Health Center IV to district hospital status, part of a broader plan to improve healthcare and public services in the region.
While addressing a massive crowd at Karugutu Town Council in Ntoroko District, Mafabi criticized the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for years of neglect, especially in Uganda’s mountainous communities.
He stated that the party was committed to ensuring locals benefit more from the natural resources in their region, including the Semliki Wildlife Reserve and Lake Albert.
Mafabi proposed that the national park be opened for shared use between wildlife conservation and local tourism activities, in a model that ensures economic benefits trickle down to surrounding communities.
He also commented on President Yoweri Museveni’s long stay in power, saying that he did not come into the 2026 race with any animosity.
Mafabi thanked the president for his service to the country but called on him to take a step back and allow for generational change in leadership. He urged the electorate to give him a chance to introduce a new system of governance.
Mafabi was accompanied by FDC President Patrick Oboi Amuriat, Western Uganda Vice President Centenary Robert, and other top party officials as they campaigned in Ntoroko and Bundibugyo, with a stop in Kasese scheduled for the next day.
At the rally, FDC leaders encouraged the people of Ntoroko to vote for change, arguing that continued support for the NRM had brought little benefit to the district.
Amuriat noted that poor road infrastructure and persistent flooding had hampered development in the region, and he questioned why such challenges were still present after four decades of NRM rule.
Former Busongora North MP William Nzoghu told the crowd that despite consistently voting for the NRM, Ntoroko had not received as much government support as some sub-counties in Kasese, which had historically voted for the opposition.
Soroti City Division West MP Jonathan Ebwalu promised that, under an FDC government, health centers would be well-stocked with medicine and citizens would have the economic means to support their families, including paying school fees for their children.
FDC spokesperson John Kikonyogo said that Mafabi, having grown up in a mountainous region himself, was better positioned to understand and address the challenges faced by people in Ntoroko.
Meanwhile, local residents expressed frustration with the current state of healthcare and the cost of living.
Irene Mbabazi and Moses Mukisa explained that when a woman goes into labor, families often struggle to access medical services if they cannot afford to pay upfront, highlighting the urgent need for better healthcare policies and social support.
The FDC is hoping these promises will resonate with voters in the western region, as the party intensifies its efforts to challenge NRM dominance in the lead-up to the 2026 general elections. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
